RADIO
Welcome, RotoBallers! If you do not know me, my name is Brandon and I write both The First-Serve and The Kick-Off for Tennis and Soccer respectively. If you have not checked those out, make sure you do! It is the return of the NHL season which means it's time to sharpen our MLB skills and partake in NHL DFS! As always, I'll give you the best tools to succeed and the info you need to build the best lineups possible for your GPP and cash game NHL contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Today I'll be bringing you my NHL lineup picks, analysis, and advice for NHL DFS contests on DraftKings and FanDuel for Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 at 7:00 PM EST. Be sure to also check out our awesome NHL tools including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets!
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions or in our premium slack chat. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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NHL DFS Analysis and Picks for 2/22/22
We have yet another unusual “small” slate, with just six matches tonight. We will also have a few value spots to exploit, granting us some flexibility in roster construction. I will do my best to guide you through this exciting slate to celebrate 02/22/2022, starting at 7 p.m. EST with a few teams in prime matchups.
We will have a few teams on a back-to-back: Philadelphia, Toronto and Seattle. The Blue Jackets and their league's second-worst goals against (3.62) will host the distraught Maple Leafs, while the Panthers and their league-leading goals for (4.06) will hope to defeat the struggling Predators.
DISCLOSURE: The slate may not be the same at puck drop as it is during the writeup due to COVID-19. Make sure to monitor the news feed and play at your own risk.
NHL DFS Goalies
Ville Husso - DK $8K || FD $8K
Opponent - Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers will be playing on the second-half of a back-to-back after losing to the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime yesterday. This will be the Flyers’ ninth back-to-back this season and in those previous eight, they only scored three or more goals in both games once. Husso is playing lights out and at times keeping the Blues in games they shouldn’t be. He is also the fourth highest-priced netminder on the slate for DraftKings and he is sporting a 0.936 save percentage over the season.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Kahkonen(DK $8.5K || FD $7.8K), Campbell(DK $8.2K || FD $8.5K), Gibson(DK $7.9K || FD $7K), Sorokin(DK $7.8K || FD $8.1K)
NHL DFS Centers
Auston Matthews - DK $9.3K || FD $10K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Matthews is currently carrying the Maple Leafs and the top-line pivot has a 2-3-5 line, 21.0 shots and 4.0 blocked shots in his last five matches. Until he cools down, it is extremely hard to fade him, especially with such limited "safe" options at the center position on the slate. The Blue Jackets sport the league's second-worst GA/60 (3.62), you know what to do.
Sam Steel - DK $2.5K || FD $3.7K
Opponent - San Jose Sharks
Centering the top-line? Check. Playing against a struggling San Jose team? Check. Under $3K salary on DraftKings? Check. Teammate Ryan Getzlaf missed Anaheim's last matchup and he might miss this matchup against San Jose. In Steel's one appearance playing in for Getzlaf, Steel had 1.0 goals, 2.0 shots and 2.0 blocked shots. He offers a solid two-way game without the physical presence that Getzlaf brings. If Steel anchors the first line again, he would be extremely hard to pass up on.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Barkov(DK $8.3K || FD $9K), Zegras(DK $7K || FD $6K), Hartman(DK $6.8K || FD $5.9K), Barzal(DK $6.1K || FD $6.2K), Bennett(DK $5K || FD $6.7K), Thomas(DK $4.6K || FD $5.4K)
NHL DFS Wings
Kyle Palmieri - DK $2.9K || FD $3.8K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
Palmieri is back and he is heating up. The Islanders continue to struggle offensively and at times Palmieri has been a part of that struggle. However, in his three games since returning from personal reasons he has 3.0 goals and 10.0 shots. Now he gets to play on the top-line again for under $3K in salary against a Kraken team that will be playing the second-half of a back-to-back.
William Nylander - DK $6.6K || FD $7.5K
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
Nylander is certainly not getting enough credit for the Maple Leaf’s success this season. Alongside Matthews, the second-line winger is carrying a massive part of the offense and especially carrying the second-line with underperforming teammate and captain John Tavares. In Nylander’s last five appearances, he has a 2-3-5 line with 14.0 shots. Considering the lack of production from the rest of his line, these are solid numbers. He will also have a prime matchup against the Jackets and their league-bottom defense tomorrow.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Marner(DK $8.3K || FD $8.4K), Tarasenko(DK $7.1K || FD $8.6K), Zuccarello(DK $6.5K || FD $7.7K), Laine(DK $6K || FD $7K), Lee(DK $4.2K || FD $5.1K), Hornqvist(DK $3K || FD $4.8K), Bellows(DK $2.6K || FD $4K)
NHL DFS Defensemen
Noah Dobson - DK $6K || FD $6.3K
Opponent - Seattle Kraken
Dobson remains one of the leading offensive players for the Islanders. The defenseman continues to quarterback the top power-play unit and he also continues to provide a solid two-way effort. Over his last five games, he has a 2-2-4 line with 15.0 shots and 12.0 blocked shots. Just like his fellow opponent Mark Giardano, Dobson will consistently provide a floor with a high ceiling.
Erik Brannstrom - DK $2.7K || FD $3.9K
Opponent - Minnesota Wild
It is crazy to see Brannstrom under $3K salary on DraftKings still. The fifteenth overall pick in 2017 was taken then for a reason. The Golden Knights wanted a cornerstone player to build their defense around. Well, now the Senators have him and they are still without their top defenseman Thomas Chabot. This leaves Brannstrom to pick up every shift possible, as well as, quarterbacking the top power-play. He still has yet to “wow” since the promotion, but for the minimum salary, all he needs is a shot or two.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Josi(DK $7.5K || FD $7.5K), Burns(DK $5.9K || FD $6.5K), Spurgeon(DK $5K || FD $5K), Giordano(DK $4.8K || FD $5.8K), Drysdale(DK $4.3K || FD $4.1K), Ristolainen(DK $4K || FD $4.3K)
NHL DFS Top Power Plays and Stacks
- TOR1
- STL1
- MIN1
- NYI1
Brandon’s Stacks of the Day
- STL: Buchnevich-Thomas-Tarasenko
- Chalk Stack
- TOR: Nylander-Matthews-Marner
- Sneaky Stack
- NYI: Lee-Palmieri-Dobson
